Switch blade and mounting therefor



March 7, 1961 A. D. STOLLE E'I'AL 2,974,212

SWITCH BLADE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5- dflf/ZO B 550%, if BY zzobe E1115, 540 Mr. QM QM/M21.

March7, 1961 A. D. STOLLE EI'AL 2,974,212

SWITCH BLADE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M NJ? 65 ENTOR5 BY Hobart 51 5, i 5% March 7, 1961 A. D. STOLLE EI'AL 2,974,212

SWITCH BLADE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1958 a Sheets-Sheet s 7M INVENTOR5. awzm 17520516, @w fl BY 12 0138 5 Elm,

e 2,974,212 Patented Mar. 7, 1961 swrrcn BLADE AND MOUNTING rnnnnron Anthony D. Stella and Robert B. Ellis, Chicago, Ill., as-

signors to International Register Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Iilinois Filed May 21, 1958, Ser. No. 736,755

9 Claims. Cl. ass-1st The present invention relates to electrical switches of the general class employing one or more resilient switch blades of the laterally flexing type.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved construction of resilient switch blade characterized by having one or more terminal tabs formed as integral extensions of the anchoring portion of the switch blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved manner of mounting these resilient switch blades characterized by each blade having an anchored mounting in the insulating supporting plate on which the switch is mounted; and further characterized by each blade having an anchored mounting in a slotted support block of insulating material, which support block is then riveted to said supporting plate. This anchored mounting in the supporting plate and in the slotted support block is effected through an improved anchoring web portion form as an integral part of each switch blade.

The combination of the above features results in a switch construction which is much cheaper to make than prior constructions, and one in which the possibility of erroneous assembly or misalignment of parts is reduced to a minimum.

The invention has been developed for use in the highly competitive field of manually settable time switches for timing the operation of clothes dryers, washing machines, refrigerator deirosters and the like. In these time switches, a small synchronous motor is arranged to drive one or more manually settable rotary cams at a timed rate; and arranged to respond to recesses, slopes and dwells in the peripheries of these cams are resilient switch blades which are operative to open and close electrical contacts in the performance of the timing operation. The entire assembly of the electric motor, rotary cam, laterally flexing switch blades, and cooperating contacts is generally mounted on the aforesaid insulating supporting or mounting plate. Electrical connection is usually made with the anchored ends of the switch blades through terminal clips which are anchored to the mounting plate.

Heretofore, the prevailing practice has been to manufacture these terminal clips as individual stampings, separate and apart from the switch blades, and to use these terminal clips as the anchoring or attaching means for securing the anchored ends of the switch blades to the mounting plate.

This practice has necessitated at least two riveting operations for mounting each switch blade, namely the riveting of the terminal clip to the mounting panel, and the riveting of the terminal clip to the switch blade. The necessity of performing this double riveting operation for mounting each switch blade has increased the cost of manufacture and has also increased the likelihood of faulty assembly and misalignment of parts.

Moreover, where it has been necessary to provide the switch blade with a plurality of terminals for connection to a plurality of wires, this has frequently required that the terminal clip assembly be composed of a plurality of parts, thereby further increasing the cost and the possibility of faulty assembly. Different reasons have heretofore made it desirable to construct the terminal clips separate from the switch blades. For example, in order that the switch blades should have the required flexing resiliency, it has been thought necessary that they be relatively thin, or be composed of beryllium copper or the like, or be of spring temper, which has heretofore made it impractical to construct the terminal clips as integral parts of the blades. With regard to the thickness of the stock, the terminal clips now in most prevalent use are constructed of moderately thick brass or copper, formed with projecting male terminal prongs or tabs. These projecting prongs or tabs are adapted to receive flat socket types of quick-connect female connectors which have a tight push-pull fit over the projecting terminal prongs or tabs. The manufacture of these quickconnect female connectors has become standardized for reception over a terminal prong or tab of moderately thick stock.

One of the aforementioned objects or features of our invention is the construction of resilient switch blades having terminal prongs or tabs extending as integral projections from the anchoring ends of the blades. In this regard, when it is desired to make the switch blades of relatively thin stock for greater amplitude of flexing movement, such as to accommodate multiple contact operation, We increase the effective thickness of the integral terminal prong by corrugating or crinkling the metal in the prong so that the elfective thickness is increased for receiving the standard quick-connect female connector.

With regard to the blade mounting, this is eflected by providing anchoring slots in the insulating mounting plate; and also by providing a support block of insulating material having additional anchoring slots formed therein; into which anchoring slots the switch blades are forced with a tight frictional push-fit. A single support block can be made to mount one, two, three or more switch blades by forming the block with the appropriate number of blade anchoring slots. This support block is then riveted to the mounting plate, whereby only a single pair of rivets serves to mount any number of switch blades. The accuracy with which the blade anchoring slots can be stamped or molded in the insulating mounting plate and can be molded in the insulating support block insures the accuracy of assembly of a plurality of switch blades having interacting contacts. In this regard, another feature of the invention is to have the blade anchoring slots in the insulating mounting plate anchor the switch blades in one plane, and to have the blade anchoring slots in the mounting block anchor the switch blades in another plane. For example, the anchoring slots in the mounting plate may be relied upon to anchor or predetermine the positions of the switch blades substantially in the horizontal plane, and the anchoring slots in the mounting block may be relied upon to anchor or predetermine the positions of the switch blades substantially in the vertical plane, thereby resulting in a facile method of assembly, and assuring a positive accurate anchorage of the blades in both planes.

Another feature of the invention resides in the formation of an improved limiting stop for limiting movement of a switch blade in one direction, this being in the form of an integral finger which projects laterally from the contact end of the switch blade and is adapted to play in a limiting slot provided in the mounting plate.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detail description of certain preferred embodiments thereof.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating such embodiment:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a manually settable timer embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 1 showing the mounting of the tiltable cam follower.

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the insulating mounting block which mounts and predetermines the positions of the switch blades in the vertical lane.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the mounting block, taken approximately on the plane of the line 6-6 in Figure 5.

' Figure 7 is a rear view of the mounting block, taken approximately on the plane of the line 7-7 of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a plan view of the lower or primary switch blade, corresponding to a section taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is an edge view of this lower switch blade.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the upper or secondary switch blade, corresponding to a section taken on the plane of the line 1010 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is an edge view of this upper switch blade.

Figure 12 is an end view of one exemplary form of female connector adapted for push-pull fit over the terminal prongs of the present switch blades.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a modified construction of upper switch blade wherein one of the terminal prongs is threaded for receiving a terminal screw.

Figure 14 is an edge view of the switch blade of Figure 13; and

Figures 15 and 16 are plan and side views of a modified form of stationary contact mounting clip, Figure 16 being a section taken on the plane of the line 1616 of Figure 15.

Our improved switch blade and mounting has been devised primarily for use in small motor driven timers for timing the operation of household appliances, such as clothes dryers, and the like, and, accordingly, we have, in the accompanying drawings, illustrated our invention embodied in one of such timers. However, it will be understood that the utility of our invention is not limited 32, which permits the cam 30 to be manually preset to diiferent timed positions around the axis of the shaft 25. This manual presetting is performed through a manually operated knob 33 which is fixedly secured to the outer end of the shaft 25, and which is operable to manually turn the shaft 25 in either direction in the manual setting operation. This manual setting knob 33 carries oppositely extending raised ribs 34-, preferably provided with marking arrows '34, which are adapted to be manually rotated in either direction into registration with different time scale markings on a stationary semi-circular time scale 35, covering any desired time span, such as 0 to 60 minutes. Located at one or more points around the periphery 36 of the cam 30 are switch actuating recesses or notches which may have ditferent depths and different sequences, but which are typically represented in Figure 1 by a relatively shallow notch 37 and a relatively deep notch 38. Responding to these notches or recesses is the switch blade assembly of our invention, this switch blade assembly being designated 40 and being mounted on the main panel 15 directly above the cam disc 30.

This switch blade assembly comprises a lower or primary switch blade 41 and an upper or secondary switch blade 41a, which carry at their flexing ends cooperating movable contacts 43 and 44 respectively for controlling a first circuit therebetween. The contact 44- constitutes one head of a double headed contact, the other head 45 of which projects from the upper side of the upper switch blade 41a in position to engage a stationary upper contact 46, for controlling a second circuit through these contacts 45 and 46. Both switch blades are biased downwardly into the positions shown in Figure 1, and the switch blades are flexed upwardly by the cam 30 through the action of a cam follower 47 which is tiltably supported by the lower switch blade 41 for riding on the periphery of the cam 30. To provide for the tiltable mounting of this cam follower 47, the opposite side edges of the primary switch blade 41 are formed with downwardly turned wings 48 having tapering or V-shaped notches 49 therein,

to use in these manually settable timers but extends to a 1 large variety of other electrical devices using laterally flexing switch blades.

In this motor driven timer, the several parts of the assembly are all mounted upon a supporting plate or panel 15 composed of insulating material. The motor 16, which is a small self-starting synchronous motor, is mounted on the back side of the supporting panel 15 adjacent to its lower edge. Constituting a part of the motor unit is a speed reduction gear housing 17, from the sides of which project attaching lugs or ears 18 which are secured by screws 19 to the insulating mounting panel 15. The speed reduction gearing in this housing 17 results in a slow rate of rotation being transmitted to drive shaft 21, which extends through the insulating panel 15 and carries a small pinion 22 lying on the front side of the insulating panel 15. This pinion meshes with a larger gear 24 mounted on and clutched to a main manually settable timing shaft 25. This timing shaft 25 has its rear end journaled in a bearing carried by the mounting, panel 15, and has its forward portion journaled in a bearing aperture in a U-shaped frame or bridge member 27 which has its ends secured in the mounting panel 15.

Secured fast to the motor driven timing shaft 25 between the panel 15 and the bridge member 27 is an insulating cam disc 30 having switch actuating notches in its periphery. The time driven rotation transmitted from the large speed reduction gear 24 to the timing shaft 25 and cam disc 30 occurs through a friction slippage clutch As shown in Figure 4, the cam follower 47 is of U-shaped outline comprising a cross bar portion which seats in the notches 49 and also comprising upwardly extending side arms 47' which lie outside of the wings 48, thereby establishing a tiltable mounting which enables the follower 47 to tilt or flip back and forth. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the cam follower 47 is mounted on the switch blade 41 at a point which is off-center or displaced from a plane passing through the axis of rotation of the cam 30 normal to the switch arm 41, or displaced from a vertical axial plane through the cam 30. The off-center displacement of this point of mounting is in the direction of the motor driven rotation of the cam 3t i.e., to the right of said plane for the clockwise direction of rotation of the cam, as indicated by the arrow. The advantages of this tiltable mounting for the cam follower, and of the offset relation of this tiltable mounting, have been fully set forth in the prior copending application of William P. Gallagher, Anthony D. Stolle and Robert B. Ellis Serial No. 393,802 filed November 23, 1953, since issued on July 6, 1958, as Patent No. 2,842,626.

Referring now to our new and improved mounting for securing the anchored ends of the switch blades 41 and 41a to the support panel 15, this mounting comprises a unique design of mounting block 50 molded of insulating material and having spaced mounting slots 51 and 51a extending transversely therethrough from side to side for receiving the anchored ends of the switch blades. In addition to passing through the block from side to side, these blade anchoring slots 51 and 51a also extend into or through the rear abutment face 50 of the mounting block. Since the slots 51 and 51a open out through three faces of the mounting block 50, i.e. through the two vertical side faces and also through the rear abutment face 50', the front edges of these slots must necessarily be closed off by the solid front face of the block in order to preserve the one-piece continuity blade 41a, and the lower anchoring slot 51 is therefore I made correspondingly thinner than the upper anchoring slot 51a. The upper wall of the lower slot 51 is formed with an internal cavity 52, and the lower wall of this lower slot is formed with a centrally disposed projecting tongue 53. The central tongue 53 projects slightly above the plane of the bottom wall of the slot, so that when the switch blade 41 is forced into the slot 51 a portion of the blade will be cambered slightly upwardly by the tongue 53 into the cavity 52. The upper slot 51a has a reversed relationship of cavity 52a and projecting tongue 53a. Thus, when the upper blade 41a is forced into the upper slot 51a a portion of this upper blade will be cambered slightly downwardly into the cavity 52a by the projecting tongue 53a. This cambered or wedging fit insures an accurate and positively locked vertical positioning of the switch blades 41, 41a in the insulating support block St The cavities 52 and 52a in the two slots 51 and 51a also provide thickness space for accommodating thickened stiffening portions in the molding punches or plugs which define the slots 51 and 51a in the plastic composition of the insulating support block 50.

Projecting from the upper and lower ends of this support block are integral attaching ears 54, 54 through which pass rivets 55 for anchoring the abutment face 50 of the mounting block against the front surface of the mounting panel 15. The rivets 55 pass through holes 56 in the attaching ears 54, '4. Projecting rearwardly from the attaching ears 54, 54', beyond the plane of the abutment face 50, are integrally molded dowel lugs 57, 57 which fit into rectangular slots 58 punched out in the main panel 15. The engagement of these dowel lugs in the rectangular slots 58 serves to locate the mounting block 50 and the switch blades 41 and 41a with a high degree of accuracy on the front face of the mounting panel 15. It will be seen from Figure 7 that a substantial part of the periphery of each rivet hole 56 passes through a portion of the adjacent dowel lug 57, 57. A portion of each rivet shank 55 thus passes through a portion of each dowel locating slot 58 in the mounting panel 15, the slot 58 having a circularly-shaped enlargement 59 at one edge to receive the other remaining portion of the rivet shank 55. Thus, part of each locating dowel 57, 57 and of each locating slot 58 are combined with part of each rivet hole 56 and each rivet receiving enlargement 59. This feature avoids the necessity of providing two substantially separated holes in the mounting panel 15, one for receiving each locating dowel 57, 57' and one for receiving each rivet 55, thereby conserving or saving space in the over-all assembly, this relationship of holes in the mounting panel being shown in Figure 2.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the two blade receiving slots 51 and 51a in the support block 50 serve to accurately anchor or predetermine the positions of the two switch blades 41, 41a in the vertical plane, i.e. they predetermine the vertical location of the blades on the mounting panel 15, and the vertical spacing between the blades, etc. These vertically positioning slots 51 and 51a cooperate with two horizontally positioning slots 61 and 61a which are punched out in the mounting panel in registration with the slots 51, 51a. The slots 61, 61a are punched out in the mounting panel 15 with their long dimensions extending parallel with the lengths of the blades 41, 41a, and they accurately anchor and predetermine the positions of the switch blades in the horizontal plane by cooperating with anchoring web portions formed integral with the anchored ends of the switch blades 41 and 41a. As will be presently described, the two switch blades are each provided with such anchoring web portion and with right angle terminal prongs projecting rearwardly from their anchoring ends, and such anchoring web portions and right angle prongs extend out through these slots 61 and 61a into terminal receiving positions on the backside of the mounting panel 15.

Referring now to this improved construction of the switch blades 41 and 41a, these are both preferably composed of brass, as distinguished from the more expensive beryllium copper heretofore commonly used in the construction of such switch blades. In the operation of the switch contacts, the lower or primary switch blade 41 is actuated through a greater range of flexing movement than is the upper or secondary switch blade 41a, and this lower switch blade is therefore preferably made of thinner spring tempered brass stock. For example, we have found that satisfactory operation is obtained when the lower switch blade 41 is made of spring hard brass stock of approximately .0226 inch thickness, but it will be understood that this exact dimension is only exemplary. On the other hand, the upper switch blade 41a is preferably made of I-LH. brass stock of substantially greater thickness, such as approximately .032 inch. This .032 inch thickness has become a standardized dimension for terminal prongs or terminal tabs that are to receive the now prevalent push type of female quick-disconnector, one exemplary form of which is indicated at 64 in Figures 8 and 12. Hence, by making the upper switch blade 41a of this .032 inch thickness the switch blade can have its terminal prongs formed as integral extensions of the blade.

Figures 8 and 9 are plan and edge elevational views respectively of the lower switch blade 41; and Figures 10 and 11 are plan and edge elevational views of one embodiment of upper switch blade 41a. Referring first to the lower or primary switch blade 41, it will be seen from Figure 8 that this blade comprises an anchoring web portion 70 which extends laterally at right angles from the anchoring end of the blade arm 41. The opposite edges of this anchoring web 70 have tight pushfit engagement against the ends of the anchoring slot 61 of the mounting panel 15; and, in turn, the anchoring slot 51 of the mounting block 50 has tight push-fit engagement over the sides of this anchoring web 70. Formed integral with and projecting rearwardly from the rear portion of this anchoring web are two parallel terminal prongs 71 and 72 which project at right angles to the length of the blade arm 41. Extending in line from the anchored end of the blade arm 41 is a third terminal prong 73 which projects coextensively from the end of the blade arm. It will be noted that a substantial area of the anchoring web 70 and of the right angle terminal prongs 71, 72 is blanked out of stock which would otherwise be scrap after the punching of the switch arm 41 with its side wing extensions 48, so that the added cost of the anchoring web 70 and terminal prongs 71, 72 is minimized. The anchoring web 70 is formed with accurately punched front and rear registration edges 74 and 75 which, as previously indicated, have a close gauging fit with the opposite ends of the anchoring slot 61 in the mounting panel 15; possibly having a slight shearing fit at one or both ends of this anchoring slot 61 as the web portion is forced through the slot. In this manner, the fore and aft or lengthwise positioning of the primary switch blade 41 with respect to the mounting panel 15 is accurately gauged. These front and rear registration shoulders 74 and 75 are bounded at their front ends by abutment shoulders 76 and 77 which are adapted to abut the front surface of the mounting panel 15 at points immediately beyond the ends of the anchoring slot 61, thereby predetermining the distance that the anchoring web 70 can be inserted through the anchoring slot 61. Immediately to the rear of the registration shoulder 74 the anchoring web portion 70 is formed with two parallel slits defining a bendable locking tab 78 therebetween. As will be later described in detail, after the anchoring web 76 has been forced home into the anchoring slot 61, with the abutment shoulders 76, 77

striking the front surface of the mounting panel 15, and after the mounting block 50 has been secured to the mounting panel 15 by the rivets 55, the locking tab 78 is thereupon bent laterally across the back surface of the mounting panel, as clearly shown in Figures 2, 8 and 10, with resultant locking of the anchoring web 70 in the mounting panel. That portion of the anchoring web 70 which carries the terminal prong 71 and which lies beyond the adjacent side surface of the insulating mounting block 50 is notched out or cut away as indicated at 79, so as to increase the springing length of the blade arm 41 over which fiexure can occur.

It will be remembered that this switch blade 41 (Figures 8 and 9) is blanked out of brass stock having a thickness of substantially .0226 inch thickness, and that the terminal prongs '71, 72 and 73 of this blade are intended to receive a conventional push type of female connector 64 which is of standardized dimension calling for a terminal prong thickness of approximately .032 inch. Accordingly, in order to thicken these terminal prongs 71, 72 and 73 to this prescribed thickness, they are subjected to a unique transverse crimping or crinkling operation producing transverse lands 82 separated by intervening grooves 83 so that the average or effective thickness of the terminal prong is increased to substantially .032 inch. One exemplary embodiment of such push type :of female connector 64 is shown in Figures 8 and 12, from which it will be seen that it comprises a flattoned platform portion 65 having its lateral edges upturned and reentrantly bent to form prong engaging arm portions 66. The spacing between the upper face of the platform 65 and the opposing inner edges of the re entrant arm portions 66 constitutes the aforesaid standardized dimension designed to accommodate terminal prongs of approximately .032 inch thickness. up from the inner face of the platform portion 65 is a snap detent hump 68 which is adapted to have interlocking engagement with cooperating detent depressions in the side faces of the terminal prongs. In the operation of forming the transverse lands 82 and transverse grooves 83, detent dimples 84, 8'4 are likewise formed in the opposite faces of each terminal prong for effecting interlocking engagement with the detent hump 68 of the connector 64. The transverse crinkling of the terminal prongs, and the particular formation of the detent dimples 84, 84, in the lower switch blade 41, constitutes the separate invention of Robert B. Ellis, and has been disclosed in his copending application, Serial No. 741,314 filed June 11, 1958.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the upper or secondary switch blade 41a. In its blanked outline it is identical to the lower switch blade 41, except that it omits the side wings 48 from the sides of the blade arm, and adds to the contact end of the blade arm a laterally extending stop finger 88. In view of the similarity of the two switch blades 41 and 41a, all of the reference numerals of Figures 8 and 9 which are applicable to Figures 10 and ll have been duplicated in the latter figures with a suflix a added thereto. The only difference with regard to the three terminal prongs 71a, 72a and 73a of switch blade 41a is that these terminal prongs do not have the transverse lands 82 and grooves 83 of the switch blade 41, because this upper switch blade 41a is punched out of stock which is of substantially .032 inch thickness, and hence does not have to have its terminal prongs thickened to receive the standard female connectors 64. These thicker terminal prongs 71a, 72a and 73a may be formed with detent dimples or depressions comparable to those indicated at 84, 84 in Figure 8; or they may be formed with detent apertures 84a punched entirely through the terminal prong, for engagement with the detent shoulder 68 of the connector terminal 64.

The stop finger 88 which projects laterally from the contact end of the switch blade 41a is arranged to extend rearwardly through a slotted opening 89 whichis punched Projecting out of the insulating panel 15 directly below the stationary upper contact 46. The bottom edge 91 of this opening 89 functions as a stationary stop shoulder adapted to be engaged by the stop arm 88 when the upper switch blade 41a is permitted to flex downwardly to the open circuit position shown in Figure l, in which position all four contacts 43, 44, 45 and 46 are separated. Thus, the provision of the stop arm 88 and slotted opening 89 takes the place of the conventional stop pin which has heretofore been mounted in the back panel, and also eliminates the operation of inserting such pin. It will be noted that the stop arm 88 extends in the same direction from the blade arm 41a as the anchoring web portion 70a, and hence it is punched out of an area which would otherwise be scrap.

In'one mode of assembly of the switch blades, this upper or secondary switch blade 41a is mounted in the supporting panel 15 concurrently with the lower switch blade 41, both having their anchoring portions 70 and 70a forced substantially simultaneously through the anchoring slots 61, 61a in the supporting panel. The insulating support block 50 then has its anchoring slots 51, 51a forced down over the front edges of the two switch blades 41, 41a, following which the dowel lugs 57, 57' enter the recesses 58 in the supporting panel and the support block is then anchored by the rivets 55. In the other mode of assembly, the switch blades 41, 41a are first forced into the anchoring slots 51, 51a of the support block 50, and the anchoring web portions of the blades are then forced through the anchoring slots 61, 61a in the mounting panel, following which the support block 50 is secured to the mounting panel by the rivets 55. Following the fastening of the rivets 55 pursuant to either mode of assembly, the assembly or anchoring of the blades is finally completed by bending the two locking tabs 78, 73a laterally across the back face of the mounting panel 15. As has been previously described, the anchoring slots 51, 51a of the mounting block 50 accurately establish the vertical spacing between the switch blades 41, 41a, and also accurately establish the vertical positioning of these two switch blades on the mounting panel and with respect to the cam 30 and stationary contact 46. It should be noted, however, that the blades have horizontal freedom in these slots 51, 51a. Also, as has been previously described, the anchoring slots 61, 61a formed in the mounting panel 15 accurately establish, on the other hand, the horizontal or lengthwise positions of the two switch blades 41, 41a with respect to each other and with respect to the cam 30 and stationary contact 46. However, it should also be noted that with regard to these slots 61, 61a they each have greater vertical dimensions or widths than the vertical dimensions or thicknesses of their respective anchoring web portions 70 and 70a passing therethrough so that said anchoring web portions of the blades have limited vertical'freedom in these slots, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6. Hence, the gauged locating in one dimension and freedom of the blades in the other dimension afforded by one set of slots, and the opposite gauged locating in the other dimension and freedom in opposite dimension afforded by the other set of slots, simplifies and facilitates the assembly operation.

The stationary contact 46 is secured to one leg 93 of a Z-shaped clip 94 which has its right angle intermediate portion 95 secured to the mounting panel 15 by a rivet 96. The other right angle leg 97 of this Z-shaped clip extends through a notch 98 cut out in the upper edge of the mounting panel, this leg 97 projecting rearwardly from the back face of the panel 15 in the form of a terminal prong adapted to receive one of the quickconnect female connectors 64. By virtue of having the right angle prong portion 97 pass rearwardly through the notch 98 punched out of the edge of the panel it follows that a single rivet 96 will serve to anchor the clip 94 to the panel, since the engagementof the clip in the notch l 9 prevents the clip from swiveling around the axis of the rivet 96. This clip 94 can be made of the heavier stock, if desired, or it can be made of lighter stock, and have its terminal prong 97 corrugated similarly to the terminal prongs 71, 72 and 73 for receiving the female connector 64.

In Figures 13 and 14 we have illustrated a modified construction of switch blade 41a wherein any one or more of the terminal prongs, such as the terminal prong 72a, is formed with an extruded hole 99 which is internally threaded at 100 for receiving a cap screwwhen it is desired to connect a screw fastened type of termnial to the connector terminal of the switch blade. In all other respects, this modified form of switch blade can remain the same as the construction illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. Attention is directed to Figure 2 wherein the upper anchoring slot 61a in mounting panel is shown as having one end widened or of greater width than the other end, as indicated at 61a. This widened portion in the anchoring slot is provided so as to permit the laterally extruded hole 99 of Figures 13 and 14 to be passed through the mounting slot 61a. In some instances where it is adequate to provide each switch blade with only two terminal prongs, we may omit the third terminal prong 73, 73a by merely omitting this prong from the original blade blank, as by running stock of narrower width through the blade punching dies.

In Figures 15 and 16 we have illustrated a modified embodiment of Z-shaped clip 94 for mounting the stationary contact 46. In this embodiment, the upper horizontally extending terminal leg 97' is made substantially longer to provide an inner relatively wide terminal portion 102 in which is extruded or otherwise formed a threaded screw hole 104 for receiving a terminal screw adapted to fasten a connector terminal to the terminal prong 97'. Beyond the screw hole 104 the terminal prong 97' is made of appropriate width and length to receive a push type of female connector 64, preferably having either an apertured or dimpled type of detent 84a.

The embodiment of timer illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has a time driven cam 30 which rotates in a clock- Wise direction; but other installation conditions may make it desirable to reverse the relation of parts for a counterclockwise direction of rotation of the cam 30. It will be noted that the mounting panel 15 and the switch blade blanks 41 and 41a can be changed to the other direction of rotation by merely inverting them or turning them end for end, the wings 48 being bent in the reverse direction in such inversion of the blade blank 41.

While we have illustrated and described what we regard to be the preferred embodiments of our invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

We claim:

1. In electrical switch apparatus, the combination of a support having an anchoring aperture therein, a mounting block of insulating material having an anchoring aperture therein, said mounting block being secured to said support, with the anchoring aperture therein substantially in aligned registration with the anchoring aperture in said support, and a laterally flexible switch blade having a movable contact actuating end and an anchoring end, said anchoring end having anchored mounting in the anchoring aperture of said support and in the anchoring aperture of said mounting block, the side walls of one of said anchoring apertures being spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of said anchoring end so as to permit the locating of said anchoring end in diiferent positions transversely of said aperture, the end walls of said latter aperture predetermining the location of said anchoring end in one plane, and the side walls of said other anchoring aperture predetermining the locait) tion of said anchoring end in another plane substantially at right angles to said first plane.

2. In electrical switch apparatus of the class described, the combination of an insulating mounting panel having a front surface adapted to carry electrical contacting parts of said switch apparatus and having a rear surface from which connector terminals of said switch apparatus are adapted to extend, an insulating mounting block comprising a solid front face, two substantially parallel side faces and a rear abutment face, rivets fixedly securing said mounting block to said mounting panel with said rear abutment face held in contact against the front surface of said mounting panel, a first anchoring slot formed in said mounting block extending from side face to side face thereof and opening rearwardly out through the rear abutment face of said mounting block, the front edge of said anchoring slot being closed off by the solid front face of said mounting block, a second anchoring slot extending entirely through said mounting panel from the front surface to the back surface thereof and lying substantially in registration with said first anchoring slot in the mounting block, a switch blade comprising a relatively flexible contact spring at one end and a relatively stiff anchoring web portion formed integral with the other end, said anchoring web portion projection rearwardly substantially at right angles to and a substantial distance outwardly from the rear marginal edge of said contact spring, said switch blade being mounted in said mounting block with said anchoring web portion thereof projecting rearwardly out of said first anchoring slot through the rear abutment surface of said mounting block and rearwardly entirely through the second anchoring slot in said mounting panel, locking means carried by said anchoring web portion having locking engagement with said rear surface of said mounting panel, and a terminal prong projecting from said anchoring Web portion rearwardly from the back side of said mounting panel.

3. In electrical switch apparatus, the combination of an insulating mounting panel, an insulating mounting block having front and side faces and a rear abutment face, means fixedly securing said mounting block to said mounting panel with said rear abutment face in contact against the front surface of said mounting panel, a first anchoring slot formed in said mounting block and opening rearwardly therefrom out through said rear abutment face, a second anchoring slot extending entirely through said mounting panel and lying substantially in registration with said first anchoring slot, a switch blade comprising at one end a relatively flexible contact spring and at the other end a relatively stiff anchoring web portion projecting rearwardly from the rear marginal edge of said contact spring, said switch blade being mounted in said mounting block with said anchoring web portion projecting rearwardly out of said first anchoring slot through said rear abutment face and rearwardly through the second anchoring slot in said mounting panel, said second anchoring slot in the mounting panel being of greater width than the thickness of said anchoring web portion to permit different positioning of said anchoring Web portion transversely of said second anchoring slot, and locking means carried by said anchoring web portion having locking engagement with the rear surface of said mounting panel.

4. In electrical switch apparatus, the combination of a mounting panel having vertically spaced upper and lower anchoring slots therein, a mounting block of insulating material also having vertically spaced upper and lower anchoring slots therein, said mounting block being secured to said mounting panel, and vertically spaced upper and lower laterally flexible switch blades mounted respectively in said upper and lower anchoring slots, each of said switch blades having a movable contact actuating end and an anchoring end, each anchoring end having a pushfit frictional mounting in its respective anchoring slot in said mounting panel, said latter anchoring slot having its side walls spaced apart greater than the thickness of its respective anchoring end to permit different positioning of said anchoring end transversely of said anchoring slot, the end walls of said latter anchoring slot predetermining the location of said anchoring end and switch blade in one plane, and each anchoring end also having a push-fit frictional mounting in its respective anchoring slot in said mounting block, the side walls of said latter anchoring slot predetermining the location of said anchoring end and switch blade in another plane.

5. In electrical switch apparatus of the class described, the combination of an insulating mounting panel having a front surface adapted to carry electrical contacting parts of said switch apparatus and having a rear surface from which connector terminals of said switch apparatus are adapted to extend, an insulating mounting block comprising a solid front face, two substantially parallel side faces and a rear abutment face, rivets fixedly securing said mounting block to said mounting panel with said rear abutment face held in contact against the front surface of said mounting panel, a first anchoring slot formed in said mounting block extending from side face to side face thereof and opening rearwardly out through the rear abutment face of said mounting block, the front edge of said anchoring slot being closed off by the solid front face of said mounting block, a second anchoring slot extending entirely through said mounting panel from the front surface to the back surface thereof and lying substantially in registration with said first first anchoring slot in the mounting block, and a switch blade comprising a relatively flexible contact spring at one end and a relatively stiff anchoring web portion formed integral with the other end, said anchoring web portion projecting rearwardly substantially at right angles to and a substantial distance outwardly from the rear marginal edge of said contact spring, said switch blade being mounted in said mounting block with said anchoring web portion thereof projecting rearwardly out of said first anchoring slot through the rear abutment surface of said mounting block and rearwardly entirely through the second anchoring slot in said mounting panel.

6. In electrical switch apparatus, the combination of an insulating mounting panel, an insulating mounting block mounted thereon, dowel lugs projecting rearwardly from said mounting block, dowel lug apertures formed in said mounting panel for receiving said dowel lugs, rivet holes in said mounting panel and registering rivet holes in said mounting block, rivets passing through said rivet holes, the rivet holes in said mounting block intersecting said dowel lugs and the rivet holes in said mounting panel intersecting said dowel lug apertures, upper and lower anchoring slots in said mounting panel, upper and lower anchoring slots formed in said mounting block extending from side to side thereof, an upper relatively thick laterally flexible switch blade, a lower relatively thin laterally flexible switch blade, said upper and lower switch blades having upper and lower integral anchoring web portions at their fixed ends, cooperating contacts at the other ends of said blades, said upper and lower web portions extending through said upper and lower anchoring slots in both said mounting block and mounting panel, the ends of each anchoring slot in said mounting panel having an accurate fit with the opposite edges of each web portion for accurately predetermining the location of each switch blade in a plane parallel to its length, the side walls of each anchoring slot in said mounting block having an accurate tit with the side surfaces of each web portion for accurately predetermining the location of each switch blade in a plane at right angles to its length, abutment shoulders on each web portion abutting the front surface of said mounting panel, a locking tab formed integral with each web portion and bent laterally into locking position across the back surface of said mounting panel, a terminal prong formed integral with each Web portion andpro 12 jeoting rearwardly from the back side of said mounting panel, and a terminal prong formed integral with each switch blade and extending substantially in prolongation of said blade beyond said mounting block.

' 7. In electrical switch apparatus, the combination of an insulating mounting panel, an insulating mounting block mounted thereon, dowel lugs projecting rearwardly from said mounting block, dowel lug apertures formed in said mounting panel for receiving said dowel lugs, rivet holes in said mounting panel and registering rivet holes in said mounting blocx, rivets passing through said rivet holes, the rivet holes in said mounting block intersecting said dowel lugs and the rivet holes in said mounting panel intersecting said dowel lug apertures, upper and lower anchoring slots in sm'd mounting panel, upper and lower anchoring slots formed in said mounting block extending from side to side thereof, an upper relatively thick laterally flexible switch blade, a lower relatively thin laterally flexible switch blade, said upper and lower switch blades having upper and lower integral anchoring web portions at their fixed ends, cooperating contacts at the other ends of said blades, said upper and lower web portions extending through said upper and lower anchoring slots in both said mounting block and mounting panel,

the ends of each anchoring slot in said mounting panel having an accurate fit with the opposite edges of each web portion for accurately predetermining the location of each switch blade in a plane parallel to its length, the side walls of each anchoring slot in said mounting block having an accurate fit with the side surfaces of each web portion for accurately predetermining the location of each switch blade in a plane at right angles to its length, abutment shoulders on each web portion abutting the front surface of said mounting panel, a locking tab formed integral with each web portion and bent laterally into locking position across the back surface of said mounting panel, a terminal prong formed integal with each web portion and projecting rearwardly from the back side of said mounting panel, a terminal prong formed integral with each switch blade and extending substantially in prolongation of said blade beyond said mounting block, each of the anchoring slots in said mounting block having a cavity formed in one wall of the anchoring slot extending lengthwise of its respective switch blade, a projection extending from the opposite wall of such anchoring slot and adapted to flex the anchored portion of the associated switch blade into said cavity, a motion limiting slot in said mounting panel, and a motion limiting lug formed integral with the flexing end of said upper switch blade and extending laterally therefrom into said motion limiting slot for limiting the downward flexure of said upper switch blade.

8. In electrical switch apparatus of the class described, the combination of an insulating mounting panel, an

insulating mounting block of one-piece integral construction, said mounting block being formed of substantially rectangular outline having two opposite end faces and having front and rear faces joining said end faces, an anchoring slot formed in said mounting block to extend therethrough from one end face to the opposite end face of the mounting block, the rear edge of said anchoring slot opening outwardly through said rear face of the block, said switch blade unit comprising a laterally fiexthe opposite end of said blade portion and projecting edgeible blade portion extending beyond one end face of said mounting block for free flexing movement, an electric contact carried at the outer end of said laterally flexible blade portion, an anchoring portion formed integral with wise substantially at right angles to the edge of said blade portion, the outward edge of said anchoring portion being pressed edgewise into the open back edge of said anchoring slot in the back face of said mounting block for securing a firm frictional mounting therein, said anchoring slot in the mounting block having a bowed configuration between its ends which compels the anchoring portion of said switch blade unit to assume a substantially corresponding bowed curvature for increasing the security of the anchorage of said switch blade unit in said mounting block, means securing said mounting block to the front face of said insulating panel with the rear face of the block facing the front face of said panel for closing the rear edge of said anchoring slot in the mounting block against accidental dislodgement of the switch blade unit therefrom, said anchoring portion of the switch blade unit extending through said insulating panel, and a terminal prong projecting from said anchoring portion of the switch blade unit on the back side of said insulating panel.

9. In electrical switch apparatus, the combination of an insulating mounting panel, a laterally flexing switch blade mounted on said panel carrying a movable contact at its flexing end, a stationary contact adapted to be engaged by said movable contact, and a mounting clip for mounting said stationary contact on said mounting panel, said mounting panel having a substantially straight line free edge, a confining notch cut inwardly into the body of the panel from said free edge thereof for assisting in anchoring said mounting clip in stationary position on said mounting panel, said mounting clip being of approximately Z-shaped formation comprising an intermediate substantially vertical portion adapted to have flatwise abutment against the front surface of said mounting panel, said mounting clip comprising an integral lower leg portion bent forwardly from the lower end of said intermediate portion to project outwardly at right angles to the intermediate portion of said mounting clip and to the front surface of said panel, said stationary contact being mounted on said forwardly bent lower leg portion, said mounting clip also comprising an integral upper leg portion bent rearwardly from the upper end of said intermediate portion to project rearwardly at right angles to the intermediate portion of said mounting clip and to pass rearwardly through said confining notch in the free edge of said mounting panel, a terminal prong formed as an integral extension of said upper rearwardly bent leg portion for receiving a push type of female connector at the back side of said mounting panel, and a single rivet passing through said mounting panel and through said intermediate portion of the mounting clip at a point between said forwardly bent lowor leg portion and said rearwardly bent upper leg portion for holding the intermediate portion of said mounting clip pressed rigidly rearwardly against the front surface of said mounting panel, said confining notch cooperating with said single rivet for positively preventing said mounting clip from having any swiveling motion around the axis of said single rivet into such a position as to prevent proper engagement between said movable and stationary contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,839 Kuhn Dec. 8, 1914 1,557, 48 Greensback Oct. 13, 1925 1,639,161 Bohlman Aug. 16, 1927 2,128,813 Gagle Aug. 30, 1938 2,348,088 Nichols et al. May 2, 1944 2,372,882 Daly et al. Apr. 3, 1945 2,445,567 Schaeifer July 20, 1948 2,575,806 Graybill et a1 Nov. 20, 1951 2,582,131 Jorgensen Jan. 8, 1952 2,627,567 Bell Feb. 3, 1953 2,650,286 Ramos Aug. 25, 1953 2,739,208 Ulrich Mar. 20, 1956 2,782,392 Stolle Feb. 19, 1957 2,818,481 Nicolaus Dec. 31, 1957 2,842,626 Gallagher et al. July 8, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 608,960 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1948 991,737 France June 27, 1951 1,053,516 France Sept. 23, 1948 

